Chick fountain guard



May 31, 1949. MORTON 2,471,765 CHICK FOUNTAIN GUARD Filed Nov. 19, 1946 Fig. 1

24 11 7 17 1mm I 4' W I Hm- J'OIf Y I? MORTON Patented May 31, 1949 UNITED STATES are NT oFFi-ca:

iclaims. (01. 119-72) This invention relates-to guard devices, and

more particularly to a guard device to protect a drinking pan orfountain for chicks from becoming fouled or contaminatedfrom chick droppings, and the like.

A main object'of the invention is to provide a novel and improved fountain guard device for chick fountains which is very simple in construction; easy, to install,. and veryeffective in protecting a chick drinking pan or fountain.

A further object ,of the invention is to provide an improvedguard device for chick fountains which may be fabricated from inexpensive materials and which comprises only a few simple parts.

Further-objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a fountain guard device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the guard device of Figure 1, the pan being shown in crosssection.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on the section line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing the attachment of the arched vertical band to the radially positioned strip members.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the section line 5-5 of Figure 1 showing the same feature.

Referring to the drawings, l I designates a generally circular band of rigid material, such as steel strip or the like, suitably galvanized or otherwise protected against corrosion, which forms the base of the guard device. Connected to band I l at diametrically opposed points by bolts l2 and I3 is an arched vertical band I4 formed at its crest with a downwardly facing channel portion l5. Connected to band i at a location approximately 90 degrees arcuately spaced from the bolts l2 and I3 is an upwardly and inwardly curved strip member [6 secured to band II by a bolt ll. The top end of strip member I6 is formed with a vertical arm l8 adapted to abut the edge of channel portion I5. A similar strip member I9 is connected to band ll diametrically opposite bolt IT by a bolt 20. The top end of strip member I?! is formed with a vertical arm 2| adapted to abut the edge of channel portion I 5 opposite to arm I8. A bolt 22 passes through arm I8, channel portion l5 and arm 2| to rigidly unite strip members l6 and IE! to arched band [4 at its crest.

Secured to band II by bolts I! and are the ends of a pa-irof symmetrically positioned inclined guard strlpsi23eand 124 which respectively contact theunder surfaces ot-the opposed arms of archedband-Meatrtheir intermediate regions and arewpreferablysecured thereto. as at 14" and M respectively,by -welding, soldering or other suitable fasteningmeanse Guard strips 23 :and 2t OVeZ1ie%"the -central meg-ion -.of the area defined by band 1 l and cooperate with strip members it and l-9 to sPl'OteCtsaid central region against being fouled-by chickdroppings. 1 1

In use, the guardsdevice is positioned inadrinking pan 1or'jfountainr25 in the position shown in Figure .25. ,Thecrest-.;portiont of-the guard device has the upwardly projecting top ends of armsolt and 2! which form prongs 30 and 3| respectively. Said prongs discourage chicks from roosting on the crest of the guard. The side portions of strip members l4, l6 and I9 are rather steeply inclined so that roosting thereon by the chicks is also difficult. Access to the pan 25 however is substan- 'tially permitted for drinking, since adequate clearance is provided at the side portions of the guard adjacent the ends of the arched strip member M.

The guard device prevents chicks from standing in the pan or fountain 25 and from roosting directly over said pan or fountain. This prevents fouling of the drinking water by the chicks and maintains substantially sanitary conditions in the immediate area around the pan. The guard device is readily removable for filling the pan.

While a specific embodiment of a guard device for chick drinking fountains or water pans has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A guard device for drinking pans comprising a generally circular rigid base member, a plurality of rigid strip elements secured to said base member at equal arcuate points along the periphery of the latter member, said elements extendin upwardly and toward a point above the center of said base member, means securing together the portions of said. strip elements adjacent the point above the center of said base member, and a plurality of inclined arcuate strips secured to said base member and secured to the intermediate portions of certain of the rigid strip elements.

2. A guard device for drinking pans, comprising a generally circular rigid base member, a plurality of rigid strip elements secured to said base member at equal arcuate points along the periphery of the latter member, said elements extending upwardly and toward a point above the center of said base member, two of said strip elements being substantially diametrically-opposed and formed at the portion adjacent the point above the center of said base member with Vertical prong portions, a third strip element having a channel portion at its top, and attachment means extending through said vertical prong portions and said channel portion.

3. A guard device for drinking pans comprising a generally circular rigid base member, two rigid strip elements arranged in end-to-end relation and having the ends remote from each other secured to said base member at diametricallyopposed points along the periphery of the latter member, said strip elements extending upwardly and toward a point above the center of said base member, the other adjacent ends of said strip elements being each provided with vertical prong portions, a third arched rigid strip element secured at its ends to the periphery of said base member mid-way between the secured ends of the first rigid strip elements and also extending from its secured ends upwardly and toward the point above the center of said base member, said third rigid strip element being formed at the crest of its arch with a transverse channel portion positioned intermediate the vertical prong portions, and attachment means projecting through the vertical prong portions and the said channel portion.

4. A guard device for drinking pans comprising a generally circular rigid base member, two rigid strip elements arranged in end-to-end relation and having the ends remote from each other secured to said base member at diametricallyopposed points along the periphery of the latter member, said strip elements extending upwardly and toward a point above the center of said base member, the other adjacent ends of said strip elements being each provided with vertical prong portions, a third arched rigid strip element secured at its ends to the periphery of said base member mid-way between the secured ends of the first two rigid strip elements, said third arched strip element having at the crest of its arch a transverse channel portion positioned intermediate the vertical prong portions, attachment means projecting through the vertical prong portions and the said channel portion, and a pair of inclined arcuate strip elements secured to said base member at diametrically opposed points, each of said latter inclined arcuate strip elements abutting and being secured to an intermediate portion of the third arched strip element.

JOHN R. MORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Hadland Apr. 13, 1926 

